News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Margaret Johnson announced today that a number of key objectives from the Local Food and Beverages Strategy 2021-2025 have been accomplished.

Launched in January 2021, the aim of the four-year action plan is to benefit the province’s agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors through work on three core pillars: Grow NB, Buy NB and Feed NB. Performance measures are in place for each pillar, with the goal of educating and raising awareness within the sectors and the public.

“I am proud of what has been achieved in just the first year of the strategy, and pleased with the progress that continues to be made within the sectors when it comes to not just action, but also education,” said Johnson. “The continued strengthening of our food system and improving food self-sufficiency is central to the development, growth and sustainability of the New Brunswick local food and beverage sectors.”

Key highlights from the first year:

• Vegetable production increased by 24 per cent.
• A Controlled Environment Agriculture Action Plan was created, and 41 greenhouses and indoor growing projects were supported.
• The Buy Local For Good campaign featured more than 45 videos, allowing the food and beverages industry to share success stories.
• Support was provided for two new abattoirs and 11 expansion projects.
• More than 1,600 students were educated about the agriculture, aquaculture and/or fisheries sectors.

The year-one achievement document is available online.

The province’s agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries sectors deliver a significant variety of products and commodities to local and export markets. They also employ more than 17,000 New Brunswickers in primary production and processing and are a significant economic contributor to many rural, coastal and Indigenous communities.